Coreopsis plant named ‘Novacorbir’

ABSTRACT

The present  Coreopsis  cultivar was created as an open-pollinated seedling of the ‘Zagreb’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). A dense low compact highly uniform rounded growth habit is displayed. The plant is highly branched. Attractive, large yellow daisy-type inflorescences are formed. The green foliage coloration contrasts nicely with the yellow blossoms. The plant displays a propensity to freely flower for an extended period of time, commonly from June to September. The plant can be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, and residential settings.

Botanical/commercial classification: Coreopsis verticillata/Thread-leafCoreopsis.

Varietal denomination: cv. Novacorbir.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of Coreopsis verticillata sometimes bear common names such asthread-leaf coreopsis, whorled coreopsis, thread-leaved tickseed, andpot-of-gold.

The new Coreopsis plant of the present invention originated in a plantnursery tended by man at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. as an open-pollinatedseedling of the ‘Zagreb’ variety (non-patented in the United States).The exact male parent is unknown. The species likely is verticillata. Iwas attracted to a single plant of the new cultivar in view of itsdistinctive combination of characteristics. Had the new plant not beendiscovered and preserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Coreopsis plant displays the followingcombination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a dense low compact highly uniform rounded growth        habit,    -   (b) displays a freely basal branching habit,    -   (c) displays attractive green foliage,    -   (d) displays a propensity to freely flower for an extended        period of time commonly from June to September, and    -   (e) forms attractive large yellow daisy-type inflorescences.

The neat, evenly rounded growth habit that is displayed is particularlynoteworthy.

The expressed combination of characteristics enables the new cultivar tobe readily distinguished from its ‘Zagreb’ parent as well as all otherpreviously available Coreopsis plants know to the discoverer. Morespecifically, the ‘Zagreb’ cultivar displays a larger, less compactgrowth habit. The ‘Tweety’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,347) formslighter yellow blooms that are smaller in size. The ‘Moonray’ cultivar(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,931) forms light creamy ray florets and bloomsthat are smaller in size. The ‘Moonbeam’ cultivar (non-patented in theUnited States) forms lighter creamy-yellow blooms. The ‘Star Cluster’cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,035) forms blooms possessing adissimilar small purple eye. The ‘Novcorcar’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 22,565) displays blooms that are more orange in coloration combinedwith a dissimilar more upright growth habit.

The new cultivar can be grown to provide attractive ornamentation inparks, gardens, and residential settings.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar in a controlled environment bythe rooting of stem cuttings has been conducted at West Grove, Pa.,U.S.A. It has been demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsof the new cultivar is firmly fixed and is well retained in succeedinggenerations. Accordingly, the new cultivar can be asexually reproducedin a true-to-type manner.

The new cultivar has been named ‘Novacorbir’ and will be marketed underthe LITTLE BIRD trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates a typical flowering plant of thenew cultivar at an age of approximately three years. The plant had beenasexually reproduced by the use of stem cuttings and was growing in theground in full sun at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The attractive yellowblossoms combined with the dense low compact highly uniform roundedgrowth habit are shown.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors described herein isThe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England (1995 Edition or equivalent). In some instances, more commoncolor terms are provided and are to be accorded their usual dictionarysignificance. The plants had been asexually reproduced by the rooting ofstem cuttings, were approximately three years of age, and were observedwhile growing outdoors in the ground in full sun during October at WestGrove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Botanical classification: Coreopsis verticillata.-   Cultivar: Novacorbir.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Herbaceous perennial, dense, low, compact, and highly            uniformly rounded.        -   Height.—Approximately 30 to 35 cm on average. This compares            to approximately 45 cm on average for the ‘Zagreb’ cultivar.        -   Width.—Approximately 30 to 35 cm on average. This compares            to approximately 45 cm on average for the ‘Zagreb’ cultivar.        -   Branching.—Highly branched, commonly with approximately 35            main stems on average emerging from the soil level, and            approximately 10 lateral branches on average from each main            stem.        -   Stem length.—Main stems commonly are approximately 6 cm in            length on average and lateral stems commonly are more            variable in length with an average of approximately 8 cm on            average (excluding peduncles).        -   Stem diameter.—Main stems commonly are approximately 1 cm in            diameter on average and lateral stems commonly are more            variable in diameter with an average diameter of            approximately 5 mm.        -   Stem texture.—New growth tends to be smooth, and mature            growth tends to be slightly rough.        -   Stem color.—Near Yellow-Green Group 144B overlaid with            Grey-Brown Group 199B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single, sessile.        -   Shape.—Spatulate, and sometimes narrowly-lobed (e.g., with 3            to 5 narrow lobes).        -   Configuration.—The leaves and leaf lobes are each narrowly            lanceolate to linear.        -   Length.—Variable up to approximately 6.5 cm in length with            lobed leaves commonly being longer than the spatulate            leaves.        -   Width.—Variable, when spatulate commonly approximately 2 mm            in width, and with lobed leaves commonly being up to            approximately 6 cm in width across lobes.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Very finely pubescent on the upper and under            surfaces.        -   Venation.—Non-conspicuous, pinnate, and of the same            coloration as the foliage on both surfaces.        -   Color.—The upper surfaces of young and mature leaves            commonly are near Green Group 137A, and the under surfaces            of young and mature leaves commonly are near Green Group            137C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Bud shape.—Generally spherical.        -   Bud size.—Approximately 4 mm on average.        -   Bud color.—Grey-Brown Group 199C with the apex commonly            being Yellow Group 1A just prior to opening.        -   Flower appearance.—Large daisy-type composite inflorescence            form with elongated ray florets and disc florets at the            center. Inflorescences are borne on terminals of lateral            branches on thin peduncles. Disc and ray florets develop            acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Flowering response.—Under normal conditions, plants flower            from June to September in southeastern Pennsylvania, U.S.A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Commonly up to about 3.5 cm when            fully open.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Commonly up to approximately 1.2 cm            when open.        -   Disc.—Commonly up to approximately 8 mm in diameter on            average.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly acrid when crushed.        -   Ray florets.—Aspect: held slightly cupped upward when            opening and becoming nearly horizontal at maturity. Shape:            broadly lanceolate. Length: approximately 1.4 cm on average.            Width: approximately 7 mm on average. Apex: broadly acute.            Base: cuneate. Margin: entire. Texture: smooth and velvety            on both surfaces. Number: approximately eight arranged in a            single whorl. Color: on the upper surface when opening and            when mature near Yellow Group 9A, and on the under surface            when opening and when mature near Yellow Group 6A.        -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: massed at the center of the            inflorescence. Number: commonly approximately 22 on average.            Shape: tubular, fused at the base, and flared at the apex.            Length: commonly approximately 7 mm on average. Width:            commonly approximately 2 mm on average at the base. Color:            when fully open near Yellow Group 6A and somewhat            translucent at the flared portion of the apex, and near            Yellow Group 2A towards the base.        -   Reproductive organs.—Location: androecium and gynoecium            present only among disc florets. Stamen number: five per            floret fused into a tube surrounding the style. Anther size:            approximately 2 mm in length on average and approximately            0.4 mm in width on average. Anther color: near Brown Group            200A. Pollen quantity: abundant during observations to date.            Pollen color: near Yellow-Orange Group 14B. Pistil number:            one per floret. Pistil length: approximately 7 mm. Style            appearance: very fine. Style color: near Green-Yellow Group            1B and somewhat translucent. Stigma shape: bifid and pilose.            Stigma size: approximately 2 mm on average when strongly            recurved. Stigma color: commonly near Yellow Group 12A.            Ovary size: commonly approximately 2 mm in length on            average, and approximately 1 mm in width on average. Ovary            color: near Green-White Group 157C. Receptacle size:            approximately 3 mm in length on average and approximately 4            mm in diameter on average. Seeds/fruit: none encountered            during observation to date.        -   Involucral bracts.—Number: commonly approximately 9 outer            bracts in a row, and approximately 4 inner bracts in a row.            Arrangement: the outer bracts are fused into a cone-shaped            base having a length of approximately 4 mm and a width of            approximately 2 mm with free apices and held slightly            upward. The inner bracts surround the receptacle in a            campanulate form with the apical portion unfused and            spreading and held close to the ray florets. Shape: the free            portion of the outer bracts is ovate, and the free portion            of the inner bracts is lanceolate. Size: commonly up to 3 mm            in length and 1 mm in width at the widest point. Apex: acute            on the inner and outer bracts. Base: truncate on the inner            and outer bracts. Texture: somewhat waxy on the inner and            outer bracts. Margins: entire on the inner and outer bracts.            Color: on both surfaces the outer bracts are near            Yellow-Green Group 144A overlaid with Yellow Group 12A, and            the inner bracts near Yellow Group 6C.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: relatively strong. Size: commonly            approximately 4.5 cm in length on average, and approximately            1 mm in diameter on average. Texture: smooth. Color:            commonly near Green Group 138A.        -   Pedicels.—Absent.-   Disease resistance: When grown in containers, powdery mildew may    need to be controlled.-   Hardiness: Hardy in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 5 to 9 during    observations to date.-   Propagation: Through the rooting of stem cuttings.

Plants of the new ‘Novacorbir’ cultivar have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Coreopsis plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) displays a dense low compact highlyuniform rounded growth habit, (b) displays a freely basal branchinghabit, (c) displays attractive green foliage, (d) displays a propensityto freely flower for an extended period of time commonly from June toSeptember, and (e) forms attractive large yellow daisy-typeinflorescences; substantially as illustrated and described.